Policy Paper Launch - Improving the Visibility of Women in STEM

Our first policy launch of the 2015-16 year, this paper aims to look at methods of celebrating women as a way of changing a culture that promotes an unconscious gender bias. We'll formally present the findings of our Policy Team and open it up to your advice and scrutiny. We'll be joined by speakers and contributors who will offer their insight and their experience to our proceedings. Areas covered include - How much women are represented in university PR work Whether women get special PR training Whether they should and how they are represented visually e.g. in portraits on campuses and how could this be improved. The paper also looks at how to encourage women studying STEM to continue in STEM careers, the representation of women on university boards, raising profile of schemes that reward high representation of women in universities (e.g. The Athena Swan award), and how such awards might be incorporated into national rankings. ======= We will be joined by - Jessica Wade A PhD student in Physics and Chair of Women in Physics, a group within the Institute of Physics encouraging participation of women in physics and supporting the professional development of academic women. Lucinda Sandon-Allum Our very own Union President, who as part of her Sabbatical Plan has taken on a campaign within the area of improving the participation of women in STEM, including inviting the UN HeForShe campaign to the South Kensington campus and speaking at a number of events, including this one. Professor Joanna Haigh Current co-director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London, Joanna is a fellow of both the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society, and has had a distinguished career in atmospheric physics and climate modelling. ======= The event is great for those interested in female representation in science and women considering a future career in STEM as well as anyone considering writing for London Forum for Science and Policy. The event will be followed by networking, allowing those challenged and inspired to carry on the discussion.